SSE Airtricity named commissioning supplier for Gas to the West

SSE Airtricity will be the commissioning, or default, supplier of natural gas to domestic and commercial customers when the new Gas to the West distribution network opens later this year. The move follows confirmation by SGN Natural Gas, the distribution network operator currently co-developing the network, that it is appointing SSE Airtricity as commissioning supplier in the West area network. The appointment has been approved by the Utility Regulator.

Gas to the West is a major energy infrastructure project extending the benefits of natural gas to thousands more homes and businesses in the west of Northern Ireland. When completed in 2018, it will connect the towns of Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Derrylin, Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt to the natural gas network.

SSE Airtricity is already the largest gas supplier in Northern Ireland, providing natural gas to 135,000 home and business customers in the Greater Belfast area. From later this year, all new customers connecting to the West area network will be automatically connected to SSE Airtricity.

First gas will be available in Strabane in late 2016 when the first large Industrial & Commercial customer is expected to be connected to the network, with domestic connections in Strabane due to be connected later in 2017.

Andrew Greer, General Manager (NI) of SSE Airtricity, said: “We’re delighted to have been appointed by SGN Natural Gas as commissioning gas supplier in the new West area network. As the country’s largest provider of natural gas we know the benefits that gas brings to home and business customers as a cleaner, more convenient and affordable source of energy. With this appointment, we’ll be able to begin extending the benefits of natural gas as many more customers across the West are connected to the wider Northern Ireland gas network.”